Taipower unveils new grid strategy to boost resilience

台電發布新電網戰略，提升電網韌性

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipower Chair Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) unveiled the company’s new “Power Couple” strategy, which aims to enhance grid resilience by better matching electricity supply and demand.

Speaking at a net-zero carbon emissions forum, Tseng outlined a strategy to integrate renewable energy with thermal power to ensure a continuous electricity supply. The plan allows wind, solar, and natural gas power plants to share the same electricity system, per CNA.

Wind and solar power feed the grid when available, with natural gas as backup. Tseng noted the approach improves grid efficiency by optimally allocating power sources, and energy storage systems can operate similarly.

Tseng noted that wind and solar, Taiwan’s main renewable energy sources, do not produce electricity around the clock. Adding natural gas plants on the same lines can reduce transmission distances and cut costs for equipment and grid infrastructure. With Taiwan’s growing electricity demand from AI data centers, the plan is expected to help ensure their smooth operation.

In July, Typhoon Danas caused widespread power outages in central and southern Taiwan. The storm toppled nearly 2,500 utility poles and three high-voltage towers, leaving more than 710,000 households without electricity.

Following the typhoon, underground cabling has been highlighted as a potential solution to prevent widespread blackouts. However, Tseng said some urban power lines are overhead and resistant to strong winds, and fully putting all lines underground could create new challenges, including land redevelopment issues.

National Central University Electrical Engineering Department Professor Chen Cheng-i (陳正一) said that nearly half of Taiwan’s distribution system is underground. He added that underground cables can raise voltage and take longer to repair when faults occur.

While less vulnerable to wind, underground lines are ten times more expensive than overhead lines and remain vulnerable to flooding and earthquakes. Chen suggested microgrids and virtual power plants to improve system stability.

Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄), former president of the Industrial Technology Research Institute, also advised introducing automation and AI technologies to strengthen grid management and monitoring. He added that integrating virtual power plants and energy storage systems is another way to boost grid resilience.